Photo Credit: ICC
Anya Shrubsole believes England showed their true selves in their four-wicket win over India as they picked up their first win of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022.
The holders had been on the wrong side of three narrow matches against Australia, West Indies and South Africa before a good all-round performance saw them chase down India’s meagre total of 134.
Shrubsole took two wickets, while Charlie Dean returned career-best figures of four for 23, before an unbeaten half-century for captain Heather Knight saw England home with 18.4 overs to spare.
England’s fielding was also much improved with England taking their catching and run-out chances as seven India batters failed to reach double figures.
“We were motivated by wanting to put some things right that we feel like we haven’t achieved in this tournament so far, and everyone will individually have their own motivation,” Shrubsole explained.
“We obviously wanted to come out here and win and that just goes without saying, that’s how we approach every single game.
“I guess it’s about us wanting to give a true reflection of ourselves as a team, which we feel like we haven’t done at times throughout the tournament and feel like we did more so today.”
Shrubsole was also full of praise for youngster Dean who was drafted into the side ahead of the South Africa clash, and reaped the rewards against an unstable Indian batting side.
She said: “I’m absolutely buzzing for Charlie, obviously this is her first World Cup, I think she is 21, to come and bowl as well as she did in what was a really high-pressure game with two wickets in her first over.
“She really backed up the early wickets that we’d taken, so I am over the moon for Deano. She’s someone who’s really popular amongst this group.
“She is a seriously talented cricketer and hopefully is going to be taking wickets in World Cups over the years to come.”
Despite being a spinner, Dean is no doubt taking inspiration from medium pacer Shrubsole as she earned her 100th ODI wicket and Jhulan Goswami, India’s frontline seam bowler, as she became the first woman to take 250 ODI wickets.
Goswami dismissed the in-form Tammy Beaumont for one to bring up the milestone but was not able to defend a small total, her 20 runs the third highest score of the innings.
India now head to Auckland to take on the undefeated Australia, while their own qualification hopes hang in the balance after a second heavy defeat following their 62-run loss to New Zealand.
She said: “I think in this World Cup every match is very much important and we can’t predict what will happen in a match.
“Definitely we have to bounce back when you’re playing against one of the best teams in the world.
“We have to re-collect everything, we have two days, we’ll definitely sort out whatever things are there and definitely try and go there and play positively.”
India’s number three and four failed again as Mithali Raj and Deepti Sharma made just one run from 15 balls between them.
However, Goswami is not concerned by their form, citing long-time teammate Raj’s ability to score when it matters.
“I don’t think it’s a concern. Who is batting at number three? It is Mithali Raj she is just one big knock away from a start,” Goswami added.
“In past series she has been batting fantastically against New Zealand and is just one big knock away in this tournament.
“I don’t think they are having issues I think Deepti also did a pretty decent job and at number five Harman [Harmanpreet Kaur] is playing.”
